The Role of Training on the Effectiveness of Peer Counseling Among Public Secondary School Students in Hamisi Sub County, Kenya

Abstract

The study sought to establish the role of training on the effectiveness of peer counseling (PC) among public secondary school students. Erik Erikson's Psycho-social theory (1963) which lays emphasis on peer influence during the Identity vs Confusion stage laid the foundation for the study. Descriptive survey research design was adopted. The 35 teacher counselors and 338 peer counselors (PCs) were targeted. Stratified and simple random sampling techniques were used to sample 14 teacher counselors and 142 peer counselors for the study. Data was collected using a questionnaire for PCs and Interview schedule for teacher counselors. Reliability of the study was through test retest while validity was established by analysis of data collection instruments by experts in Educational psychology. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study established that training of both teacher counselors and PCs played a vital role in ensuring effective PC among secondary school students.  It was thus recommended that the ministry of Education in collaboration with public secondary school's administration should come up with policies to see to it that both teacher counselors and PCs undergo basic training in guidance and counseling and PC respectively. This will ensure effective handling of students' problems resulting to their mental, psychological and social stability. Consequently, retention, completion and academic achievement will be attained in public secondary schools while minimizing on students' unrest, exam malpractice and other antisocial behaviors which makes schools insecure.